Shaking off injury, insult of last start, Foles back at practice

Eagles quarterback Nick Foles walks off the field after being injured in the fourth quarter of his team’s loss to the Cowboys Oct. 20. After recovering from a concussion suffered during that game, Foles is again preparing to start in place of an injured Michael Vick. (Times staff / ERIC HARTLINE)

PHILADELPHIA — It helps to have a short memory when you’re coming off the game Eagles quarterback Nick Foles played two weekends ago.

Memory loss, on the other hand, is no joking matter.

Foles declined to provide details, but teammates indicated he was out cold after being sandwiched by defensive ends George Selvie (6-4, 270) and Jarius Wynn (6-3, 285) on the last play of the third quarter of that Oct. 20 loss to the Dallas Cowboys.

Incredibly, Foles didn’t fumble. But he had to review the hellacious collision that probably would have done even more damage to a lesser man to realize exactly what happened.

It’s an understatement to say Foles was elated to get back on the practice field Tuesday and split the first-team snaps with rookie quarterback Matt Barkley. He’s seen the darkness before the dawn.

“I’m excited just because any time you suffer an injury you never know what’s going to happen,” Foles said. “You really realize how fortunate we are to play this game.”

Michael Vick and his problematic hamstring also suited up for work Tuesday, although he was anything but relevant with the Eagles preparing to take on the Oakland Raiders in Alameda, Calif., this Sunday.

Barkley had a bounce in his step and a grin on his face as he revealed he received more first-team snaps than at any practice since entering the NFL.

“It was good to get reps with the ones and with the line,” Barkley said. “It helps just to see that tempo with our receivers. We’ll work it out and compete it out and do the best with what we get.”

The following week Foles was the quarterback in the Birds’ biggest game in the Chip Kelly era.

Foles completed just 11 of 29 attempts for 80 yards and a 46.2 passer rating against the Cowboys. He shook his head when it was implied he might have been overwhelmed by the moment.

“Sure it was tough, but the pressure wasn’t the thing,” Foles said. “I just didn’t play well. I’ve got to be very accurate with the ball and I wasn’t. I’ve got to keep pushing; I can’t let that game get me down. I’m going to use that game as motivation.”

For those who insist Foles was hurt long before occupying the middle of that gruesome sandwich, and it was the reason he was off, he says you’re wrong.

For those who don’t accept those explanations, give the speed of the Cowboys defense a little credit. Some of their linemen are faster than Foles and Barkley.

“There was a lot of things,” Foles said. “Personally I didn’t execute like I needed to. I was inaccurate on certain throws I’m usually very accurate on. I see the mistakes. I did not play well. But one game is never going to define me and it never will. I’m going to continue to work and get better and that’s what today was for.”

It’s early, but teammates notice a difference in Foles.

Wide receiver DeSean Jackson said Foles “had a great practice.”

“He was able to go through his reads and make checks,” Jackson said. “I feel as far as in his mind, he’s to the point where he needs to be to practice. And it was good to have him back out there. We’ll figure out throughout the week who will be the starting quarterback. We’ve just got to support the guy regardless if it’s Matt or Nick.”

Offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur said the Eagles want to gauge where Foles is physically before making a decision about starting him.

But Shurmur made it clear Foles is pointed in the right direction and they’re on the same page after evaluating the Dallas tape.

“He’s had a chance to look through the game,” Shurmur said. “We’ve gone through the details of the good, the bad and the ugly and he’s ready to move forward. Some of the plays specifically we’ve talked about why (they went wrong). But then of course there are times when you just miss throws. And he missed more than his share.”

Shurmur said it wouldn’t be unprecedented for Foles and Barkley to split the snaps all the way through the week. Critics would say the Eagles should have done that last week, as Vick had to shut it down after just four series.

Whatever the Eagles do in the next few days, Foles feels must show the coaches he has command.

“You want to have command of the huddle, command where you’re going with the ball,” Foles said. “You want to be assertive where you’re going with the ball. You don’t want to be jittery. And really just be myself. I just want to go out there and play the game the way I know I can play it.”

Barkley, just in case, vows to be ready as the next man up.

“I’m just learning to roll with it,” Barkley said of his situation. “I kind of feel like a shark that’s kind of smelled that first blood. You don’t really know where it’s coming from. So you’re just trying to find it. I’m going to keep swimming. Keep pushing on.”